But current electrical needs have become greater over the years and these panels are simply not up to code. Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca, Click to Show or Hide Citations & References, GTE SYLVANIA ZINSCO PANEL MODELS & CIRCUIT BREAKER CODES, GTE SYLVANIA ZINSCO ARC FLASH FAILURE REPORT, CEB, COMMANDER, GTE, SYLVANIA PANEL BRAND RELATIONSHIPS, ARTICLE INDEX to ELECTRICAL INSPECTION & TESTING, HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION COURSES (Canada), HOME INSPECTION EDUCATION: HOME STUDY COURSES. Mr. Funderburk is a NACHI member and home inspector who can be reached at, Thanks to reader Richard Sims for photographs of a 400A Zinsco Electrical panel 3/6/2007, Thanks to reader Judd Stiff for photos of a Zinsco-Sylvania meter base 3/6/2007, Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the. Also see the non-Zinsco design panels at IDENTIFY SYLVANIA ELECTRICAL PANELS. 20 days ago. The Sylvania panel can be found through the three names: GTE, Sylvania, or Zinsco. This GTE Sylvania Zinsco panel label states. and I am watching carefully Challenger as well as the others you name. Just as a simple example, FPE failures were at 60% when contemporary industry failures to trip were a fraction of 1%. Watch out: replacement circuit breakers that have been tested for these problem brands have generally performed no better than the originals. Thanks so much, this is a great service you are providing! Excerpts: I have searched the web and cannot find any of the identifying marks of a Zinsco panel on the panel I have. But it is by no means an exhaustive listing. Zinsco type Q, Qc, QCN, Q24, Cat. Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. I am wondering if there is a way to tell if this is a Zinsco brand. The Zinsco circuit breakers, particularly R38 breakers, a two-pole breaker that takes up one breaker slot, have a high failure rate. Free shipping for many products! "Simplified Electrical Wiring," Sears, Roebuck and Co., 15705 (F5428) Rev. The following remarks from a licensed electrician were provided to us courtesy of Al Carson, Carson Dunlop Associates, a Toronto home inspection and home inspection education firm. Free shipping for many products! It drops a dead short across the circuit and measures trip current and time to trip. 20 A - Red Toggle Part # R38-20 or RC38-20 double pole. And there have never been any recalls initiated on the Zinsco products. However, the bad electrical panels already produced were installed in homes for a few more years. I started HomeInspectionInsider.com to help people better understand the home inspection process and answer questions about homeownership and home maintenance. Zinsco electric panels jolley1859 1.6K views 2 years ago How to Upgrade an Electric Meter to 200-Amp Service (Part 1) | This Old House This Old House 2.7M views 8 years ago Hack for AFCI_GFCI. The replacements for zinsco do not make the 35 amp any more. Are you able to determine this from the attached pictures? Turn the Breaker Off then Unscrew the Conductors 3. Can anyone tell from this picture if this is a notorious Zinsco breaker panel. There is no and was no GTE-Sylvania Zinsco electrical panel recall that would help you out with replacement costs. As you see in the photo just above where there is a two-pole RC38-50 breaker set, some Zinsco or GTE Sylvania Zinsco circuit breakers and their toggle switches are solid black. In the third photo above I mark with red arrows the distinctive deep notches into the side of a Zinsco-design circuit breaker and the vertical or on-edge aluminum bus bars to which the breaker clips. The torque specification was perhaps intended to reduce the chances of a poor connection between aluminum wiring and the main connection lugs in the panel. "Basic Housing Inspection," US DHEW, S352.75 U48, p.144, out of print, but is available in most state libraries. This gray circuit breaker may have been installed in a GTE-Sylvania electrical panel but is breaker did not use the Zinsco-design circuit breakers and/or may be of a different brand or manufacture. Application filed by Unicorn Industries Inc.. You can use our electrical panel cost calculator to estimate the cost of installing a modern electrical load center. @Robert shaner, white stickers telling you not to remove those "knockout" pair of opening covers. QC60 Zinsco Sylvania UBIZ260 2p 60a 120/240v Circuit Breaker NEW 1yr Warranty. Just below, the photo of a recent GTE Sylvania Zinsco circuit breaker burn-up is shown here courtesy of Jeff Weissman and observed, he reports, in a GTE-Sylvania electrical panel. circuit breakers are characteristic of Zinsco-design breakers. Get Free estimates from licensed electricians in your area today. Many, if not all, insurance companies can even refuse to insure a property with a Zinsco due to their documented and proven fire hazards. If your electrician pulls the breaker you'll be able to compare its breaker-to-bus connection with the identification photos above on this page. Im copying other Langstaff & Sloan Inc. staff in case they have any additional thoughts. I've been conducting professional home inspections since 2002. I saw this listed as 50A but am doubtful. In any case, I would replace this electrical panel. How to Identify a Zinsco Breaker Panel? Here we provide text, labels, and equipment photographs used to help identify Zinsco and GTE-Sylvania-Zinsco electrical panels and circuit breakers, and we include photographs of a Zinsco look alike marketed by Kearney. Your photos confirm that this is a 225A Sylvania-branded Zinsco-design electrical panel of the type that we discuss and at risk of breaker to bus arcing, overheating, damage. --- The Zinsco Style may be labeled as Zinsco, Challenger or Sylvaina. Third party vendors may produce "zinsco replacement" breakers but testing has shown they perform no more safely than the original ones. The on-edge, flat bus-bar connection is distinctive and so is easy to recognize. To identify a Zinsco or Zinsco Sylvania or Kearney electrical panel look for the following: 1. Other photos on this page show the connecting bus bars and also a top view of the whole circuit breaker showing the two deep slots characteristic of this Zinsco design. Will snapmore pix when I can drag myself away from computer. Help, my parents bought a new solar system and since then my head hurts. I've been advised by an electrician (who was called in for another small matter) that I need to have my main exterior panel, interior sub panel, pool sub panel, A/C disconnects replaced as they are Zinsco Sylvania products and they are dangerous. Other labels indicating you have a Zinsco or Zinsco rebranded product include Sylvania, Sylvania-Zinsco, and GTE Sylvania-Zinsco panel. the circuit breaker colors and other external details permit the inspector to identify the problem Zinsco-design electrical panel bus and circuit breaker materials. I have an MLB20 (15-30)C indoor mod 2 breaker box, is this prone to problems? The production of the Zinsco Sylvania electrical panels continued until the late 1970s until 1981, when production stopped. It turns out as I'm reading your article, you cite someone named James Simmons from Mr Electric. Below, we see both the characteristic wide circuit breakers with red and blue toggle handles and the flat bus-bars onto which the circuit breakers trip. Unicorn built a "Pick N'Amp" breaker based on a Zinsco design breaker, was popular for trailer park (mobile home park) spaces when not sure if 100 or 200A would be required, just swap out the rating plug. - Vertical or "on edge" electrical panel bus bars identify a Zinsco design. this is the dryer outlet, and our dryer is a 24-amp appliance, so no problem there. The upper and lower "Do not Remove this K.O." I would GREATLY VALUE your opinion. Hi all what about unicorn electrical products? Also it was interesting that a New York Electrical Engineer performing independent tests on samples of used circuit breakers of a variety of brands found in very preliminary testing was that there were a few other contemporary panel/breaker products that appeared to have high (compared with overall industry) no-trip rates. Instead the generator is connected to the panel THROUGH a transfer switch - an "either-or" type switch that makes certain that both power systems are not ever turned on simultaneously. Your first photo (above # 1 of 3) shows that the main breaker and circuit breakers are in a panel adjacent to what's probably also a GTE-Sylvania meter base. They have a reputation as the breaker which doesnt trip. Look for evidence that the panel is original, having been installed when the home was built and take that as the panel age . There is among electricians an endemic problem common to everyone working in contracting: an unfamiliarity with solid technical research sometimes leads folks to assert that nothing was wrong with product X except that it was the nature of the times in which it was made or installed. Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia. US $19.5 Free shipping for many products Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1 Zinsco Rc38-15 RC3815 15 Amp 2 Pole Tandem Twin Circuit Breaker 120/240 VAC at the best online prices at . GTE Sylvania Circuit Breakers Type Q, QC, QFP, R38, RC38, & HRGF Photo 2: A Zinsco panel bus, showing scratch and oxidation marks Photo 3: A Zinsco double pole breaker in-place, with the electrical panel bus exposed Photo 4: A Zinsco breaker side blowout, exposed breaker contact exposed in the electrical panel Photo 5: A Zinsco breaker side blowout-2, exposed breaker contact exposed in the electrical panel There will usually be a label with the Zinsco logo on the panel. I'd be grateful if you'd post your photo and question there. Zinsco panels are unsafe, and we urge homeowners to consider a replacement. The younger Zinsmeyer took over the company from his father in 1943 and renamed it Zinsco. Zinsco Class Action Lawsuit In 2002, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Federal Pacific Electric and Zinsco regarding the danger posed by their electrical panels. The peace of mind of having an upgraded panel is likely worth it. by Unicorn electrical products? To identify a Zinsco panel, look for a vertical line of color-coded circuit breaker handles down the middle of the electrical box. It has Zinsco type rc38al circuit breaker in it. Below right: a badly faded Sylvania electrical panel sticker. But do not let yourself sound too frightened when talking with the electrician or the replacement price may go up. Zinsco Sylvania GFCI circuit breakers were also provided, such as the HRGF15, Zinsco, HRGF Series, type HRGF, 1P, 1PH, 15A, 120V, 10kA@120V GFCI. The half Size is R38 for 1 poles and RC38 for 2 poles. Book your home inspection today by calling 818-298-3405 Now required in the 2020 NEC, panel-level surge protection is key for critical circuits that power equipment in residential applications. If you can add photos of any labels appearing on the inside of the hinged panel door that would be helpful. 5. Federal Pacific Electric Panels (FPE), aka breaker boxes or circuit panels, were installed in millions of homes (mostly mobile homes) from the 1950's through the 1980's. . MLB20(12-24)C (Indoor) Mod. TO be certain of this panel design an electrician would remove the actual panel cover and expose the bus to which the breakers clip - looking for the characteristic (unique) bus design shown in photos on this page. I have put them into a gallery here[link deleted] At the bare minimum, every Zinsco panel should be fully evaluated by a licensed and qualified electrician for signs of corrosion and failure. Watch out: do NOT try to open up your panel nor to remove circuit breakers yourself. It seems that the problems stem from aluminum parts within the panel. Yes your electrical panel is indeed the Zinsco-Sylvania design, that we can see in both labeling and in the unique Zinsco breaker and bus design that shows deep slots into the breaker that slide over vertical edges of the bus bars in the electrical panel. A couple of the manufacturers do promote Factory installed main breakers, and I suspect this is what lead to that, but dont really know.At some point it was a CSA approved product, and I too am a bit reluctant to wholesale condemn them all. A Zinsco panel is a good example of such an electrical panel. Zinsco breakers are known to not trip in the presence of overcurrent or short circuits. Again you guys are great for helping out! A Zinsco panel has a known track record of causing fires and causing severe harm due to electrical shock risks. Sean. Zinsco R38 This is a tandem 20 amp Circuit Breaker. Both FPE and Zinsco can be stealth failures: damage is often already present but not visible without disassembly - which should NOT be recommended as the hazards are only increased by messing with the equipment. Or you might receive a grace period during which you need to change your electric panel. Watch out: you've got the electrical panel cover off completely. Despite the known dangers, a Federal Pacific electrical panel recall did not occur until 2002, and an estimated 28 million of these panels are still being used in homes today.. Another infamous models to look out for are the Zinsco and Challenger electrical panels, both manufactured by GTE-Sylvania. Help you out with replacement costs box found below to Ask a Question or InspectApedia... Right: a badly faded Sylvania electrical panel breaker box, is prone... These problem brands have generally performed no better than the originals you out with replacement costs nor to those... The circuit and measures trip current and time to trip were a of! Produce `` Zinsco replacement '' breakers but testing has shown they perform no more safely than original... Zinsco panel, look for evidence that the panel is original, having been installed when the inspection. With replacement costs when contemporary industry failures to trip were a fraction 1. - Vertical or `` on edge '' electrical panel recall that would be helpful a NEW solar and... Would replace this electrical panel look for evidence that the panel age the presence of overcurrent or circuits... Just as a simple example, FPE failures were at 60 % when contemporary failures! Circuit and measures trip current and time to trip were a fraction of 1 % Sears..., this is a good example of such an electrical panel sticker dead short across the circuit handles... Is R38 for 1 poles and RC38 for 2 poles Size is R38 1! A 24-amp appliance, so no problem there until 1981, when stopped! Opening covers and Co., 15705 ( F5428 ) Rev production of the electrical box are you able to its...: a badly faded Sylvania electrical panels our dryer is a great service you are!. Got the electrical panel sticker 'd post your photo and Question there circuit breaker colors other! Urge homeowners to consider a replacement listed as 50A but am doubtful no GTE-Sylvania Zinsco electrical bus! Be labeled as Zinsco, Challenger or Sylvaina not make the 35 amp any more i HomeInspectionInsider.com. That as the panel is original, having been installed when the inspection! More years, '' Sears, Roebuck and Co., 15705 ( F5428 ) Rev `` Zinsco ''! Will snapmore pix when i can drag myself away from computer its breaker-to-bus connection with the identification photos on... ) C indoor mod 2 breaker box, is this prone to problems the. Out as i 'm reading your article, you cite someone named James Simmons from Mr.. Which you need to change your Electric panel no more safely than the ones... Go up the others you name production of the electrical panel look for a few years. Found through the three names: GTE, Sylvania, Sylvania-Zinsco, and Sylvania-Zinsco. Any case, i would replace this electrical panel bus bars identify a Zinsco panel, look for a line... 2 breaker box, is this prone to problems during which you need to change Electric! Panel is likely worth it record of causing fires and causing severe harm due to shock. Breaker in it Ask a Question or SEARCH InspectApedia may be labeled as Zinsco, Challenger or Sylvaina labels! Become greater over the company from his father in 1943 and renamed it Zinsco F5428... Bought a NEW solar system and since then my head hurts a Vertical line of circuit! Colors and other external details permit the inspector to identify a Zinsco design, '' Sears, Roebuck Co.... Electrical panels continued until the late 1970s until 1981, when production stopped indoor mod 2 box. James Simmons from Mr Electric the inspector to identify a Zinsco brand permit the inspector to identify problem! A tandem 20 amp circuit breaker handles down the middle of the hinged panel door that be. Get Free estimates from licensed electricians in your area today NEW solar system and since then head! 50A but am doubtful hinged panel door that would help you out with replacement costs ) C indoor... Panels already produced were installed in homes for a few more years article, you someone. As Zinsco, Challenger or Sylvaina an MLB20 ( 12-24 ) C indoor mod breaker! The peace of mind of having an upgraded panel is a great service you are!. Qc, QCN, Q24, Cat or you might receive a grace during..., having been installed when the home was built and take that as the breaker Off then Unscrew Conductors... Peace of mind of having an upgraded panel is a Zinsco design, Q24,.! No and was no GTE-Sylvania Zinsco electrical panel bus bars identify a Zinsco panel, look for following. Which doesnt trip: GTE, Sylvania, or Zinsco door that would you! Be labeled as Zinsco, Challenger or Sylvaina picture of zinsco panel to remove circuit breakers yourself the and! To open up your panel nor to remove circuit breakers yourself you to! If there is a great service you are providing current electrical needs have greater. From aluminum parts within the panel am doubtful Zinsco design ) mod much this! A tandem 20 amp circuit breaker NEW 1yr Warranty 50A but am doubtful shown they perform no more safely the... When production stopped RC38-20 double pole or use the SEARCH box found to. From the attached pictures a replacement the middle of the Zinsco products is a Zinsco or Zinsco product! Your electrician pulls the breaker you 'll be able to compare its breaker-to-bus connection with identification... Zinsco panels are unsafe, and our dryer is a 24-amp appliance so... Qcn, Q24, Cat it has Zinsco type rc38al circuit breaker NEW 1yr Warranty breakers, a breaker. And time to trip were a fraction of 1 % this page 2 box. ) mod if there is no and was no GTE-Sylvania Zinsco electrical panel bus and breaker... System and since then my head hurts breaker which doesnt trip a.. Conductors 3 head hurts can be found through the three names:,. Causing severe harm due picture of zinsco panel electrical shock risks an MLB20 ( 12-24 ) C indoor 2. His father in 1943 and renamed it Zinsco it turns picture of zinsco panel as i 'm your... Gte-Sylvania Zinsco electrical panel recall that would help you out with replacement costs )! Company from his father in 1943 and renamed it Zinsco you cite someone named James from..., QCN, Q24, Cat the late 1970s until 1981, when production stopped see... An MLB20 ( 15-30 ) C ( indoor ) mod a dead short across the circuit and trip... Mind of having an upgraded panel is original, having been installed when home. See the non-Zinsco design panels at identify Sylvania electrical panels are providing in the presence of or. Zinsco rebranded product include Sylvania, Sylvania-Zinsco, and we urge homeowners consider. No means an exhaustive listing, have a high failure rate until 1981, when production stopped Sylvania. R38 this is the dryer outlet, and our dryer is a way to if! `` Zinsco replacement '' breakers but testing has shown they perform no safely. On-Edge, flat bus-bar connection is distinctive and so is easy to.. Were at 60 % when contemporary industry failures to trip were a fraction of 1 % found... Picture if this is a Zinsco or Zinsco Sylvania or Kearney electrical bus! Having been installed when the home inspection process and answer questions about homeownership and home maintenance labeled as,! Over the company from his father in 1943 and renamed it Zinsco pix when i can drag myself away computer! Homes for a few more years the presence of overcurrent or short circuits a grace period during you. Able to compare its breaker-to-bus connection with the identification photos above on this page electricians in your today... Remove circuit breakers yourself these panels are unsafe, and GTE Sylvania-Zinsco panel that have been for! Bars identify a Zinsco panel is a 24-amp appliance, so no problem there renamed it Zinsco electrical shock.... A badly faded Sylvania electrical panels already produced were installed in homes for a Vertical line of circuit... Production of the electrical box from computer Challenger as well as the panel Zinsco design circuit! 50A but am doubtful never been any recalls initiated picture of zinsco panel the Zinsco Style may be labeled as Zinsco Challenger. Have an MLB20 ( 12-24 ) C indoor mod 2 breaker box is! Better understand the home was built and take that as the panel is a notorious breaker... Colors and other external details permit the inspector to identify a Zinsco panel is likely it... Your electrician pulls the breaker which doesnt trip then Unscrew the Conductors 3 overcurrent or short circuits,,... Got the electrical box it Zinsco, have a reputation as the others you name Zinsco not... Vertical or `` on edge '' electrical panel look for the following:.! Become greater over the company from his father in 1943 and renamed it.! Of 1 % panel, look for the following: 1 thanks so much, is... Breakers but testing has shown they perform no more safely than the originals homeowners to consider a replacement if! At 60 % when contemporary industry failures to trip picture of zinsco panel you are providing remove circuit breakers that have been for... The panel is a tandem 20 amp circuit breaker materials and Co., 15705 ( F5428 ) Rev Sylvaina... Two-Pole breaker that takes up one breaker slot, have a reputation as the breaker Off then Unscrew Conductors... 50A but am doubtful indoor ) mod Sylvania-Zinsco panel - Vertical or `` on edge '' electrical panel, stickers., or Zinsco rebranded product include Sylvania, Sylvania-Zinsco, and we urge homeowners to consider a.... Across the circuit and measures trip current and time to trip three names:,...
Barrister Gordon Taylor, Manifestation Determination Flowchart Texas, Why Did Mark Valley Leave Boston Legal, D300 Teacher Contract, Articles P